Inflatable boarding ladder and paddle combination



J. A. KIMMEL Nov. 19, 1968 INFLATABLE BOARDING LADDER AND PADDLE COMBINATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

Jean A. K/mme/ INVENTOR.

9 BY Auomqs J. A. KIMMEL Nov. 19, 1968 INFLATABLE BOARDING LADDER AND PADDLE COMBINATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 50, 1966 Jean A. K/mme/ INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,411,166 INFLATABLE BOARDING LADDER AND PADDLE COMBINATION Jean A. Kimmel, 431 Park St., Sheridan, Wyo. 82801 Filed Dec. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 606,394 9 Claims. (Cl. 9312) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bouyant boarding ladder including removable and additional removably mounted rungs operable to form a platform when the ladder is floating horizontally on the surface of a body of water together with a buoyant doubleended paddle accessory removably tetherable to one end of the ladder by means of a line secured between the ladder and the paddle centrally intermediate its opposite ends.

This invention relates to a novel and useful boarding ladder and more specifically to a boarding ladder which is buoyant and which may therefore be utilized as a life preserver.

In addition to the boarding ladder being buoyant, it is constructed in a manner so as to assume the general configuration of a small raft and therefore a person wishing to utilize the ladder as a life preserver may lie prone on top of the ladder.,Further, the instant invention also includes an elongated double-ended paddle which is also buoyant and which therefore may serve as a life preserver. The paddle is provided with a tethering line and the free end of the tethering line may be secured to one end of the boarding ladder. The tethering line is of a length whereby a person lying prone on the boarding ladder and having his arms extended beyond his head may grip the opposite ends of the double-ended paddle and oscillate the latter in a paddling motion with the tethering line taut. In this manner, the tethering line may be utilized, in addition to the users arms, to pull the boarding ladder over the surface of the water as the user moves the double-ended paddle in a paddling motion.

The paddle includes blade portions on its opposite ends and each of the blade portions is provided with a rigid generally U-shaped handle opening toward the paddle blade surface from which it projects. In addition, the boarding ladder includes a frame defining a pair of laterally spaced and generally parallel opposite side members between which a plurality of ladder rungs are removably secured. The opposite side members of the ladder frame include generally coplanar longitudinally extending flanges projecting toward each other and each of the flanges is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures, each of the rungs including opposite end mounting pins projecting slightly axially outwardly therefrom and terminating outwardly in generally right angled end portions which in turn terminate at their free ends in generally right angled terminal ends extending generally longitudinally of the corresponding rung. The generally right angled end portions of the mounting pins extend through corresponding apertures in the flanges which are constructed of stiff but resilient and bendable material such as rubber.

The ladder also includes, on one end thereof, a hook adapted to be hooked over the gunwale of a boat thereby enabling the ladder to serve its usual function to assist people boarding an associated boat from the water.

The main object of this invention is to provide a boarding ladder which may also serve as a life preserver and other uses.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a boarding ladder which, when utilized as a life preserver, is in the form of a small raft and which therefore may be laid upon by a person using the boarding ladder as a buoyant support.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a double-ended buoyant paddle construction adapted to be utilized in conjunction with the buoyant ladder and including a tethering line adapted to be secured between one end portion of the ladder and the paddle at a point centrally intermediate its opposite ends.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a boarding ladder including removable rungs and which therefore may have a given number of appropriately spaced apart rungs when the ladder is to be utilized as a means for boarding an associated boat from the water, and more closely spaced rungs when the ladder is to be utilized as a life preserver in the form of a small raft, the closely spaced rungs establishing a floor for the raft.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a boarding ladder in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the boarding ladder of the instant invention being utilized as a raft and with the double-ended paddle tethered thereto, the outline of a person being disposed upon the raft and operatively holding the double-ended paddle being illustrated in phantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the ladder with the latter illustrated in a vertically disposed position and as seen from the rear side thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of one portion of the ladder illustrating the manner in which one of the ladder rungs is secured to the ladder frame;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to that of FIGURE 6 but illustrating the position of the ladder rung and the supporting portion of the ladder frame :when weight is supported from the ladder rung;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a boat illustrating the manner in which the boarding ladder may be supported from the boat when utilized as a means to assist people in boarding the boat from the water;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the double-ended paddle construction to be utilized in conjunction with the boarding ladder; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewtaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the boarding ladder of the instant invention. The ladder includes a main frame generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 and the frame 12 is defined by a pair of generally U-shaped air impervious flexible panel members 16 and 18 secured together along corresponding marginal edge portions in superposed relation so as to define an air-tight chamber between the panel members 16 and 18. However, the panel members 16 and 18 are secured together as at 20, see FIGURE 3, and have reinforcing members 22 and 24 secured over the remote surfaces thereof with the reinforcing members 22 and 24 sandwiching the panel members 16 and 18 therebetween so as to divide the interior of the frame 12 into two separate inflatable air chambers 24 and 26. The panel member 16 includes a pair of air inlet and air outlet valves 28 adjacent the area for admitting air into and exhausting air from the air chambers 24 and 26.

The frame 12 defines a pair of opposite side members 30 and 32 and the marginal edge portions of the panel members 16 and 18 extending along adjacent sides of the opposite side members 30 and 32, in addition to being secured together in air-tight relation, have generally channel-shaped members 34 secured thereto. The channel members 34 define generally coplanar ribs and each is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 36. A plurality of ladder rungs 38 are provided and each ladder r-ung includes a pair of opposite end mounting pins 40 which project outwardly of the opposite ends of the corresponding ladder rung 38 and terminate outwardly in laterally directed end portions 42 which in turn terminate at their free ends in laterally directed terminal ends 44, the terminal ends 44 generally paralleling the rungs 38 and being directed away from the corresponding ends of the associated lung 38.

It may be seen from FIGURES 4-7 of the drawings that the laterally directed end portions 42 pass and are removably secured through the apertures 36 and therefore secure the rungs 38 to the ribs defined by the channel members 34. In addition, it will be noted from FIGURE 6 of the drawings that the ribs 34 will assume a straight condition when the rungs 38 are unloaded but that the ribs 34 will have a series of alternately reversing bends 46, 48 and 50 formed therein at each point of securement of a rung thereto which is loaded, see FIGURE 7. Further, the channel members 34 are constructed of stiff, resilient and somewhat deformable material such as rubber [whereby the nungs 38 may be readily disengaged from the ribs 34 when desired.

The opposite side members 30 and 32 include .convergent end portions 52 and 54 at one pair of corresponding ends which converge toward the reinforcing members 22 and 24. The rungs 38 extend between the generally parallel end portions of the opposite side members 30 and 32 and the convergent end portions 52 and 54 include channel members 56 similar to the channel members 34 and to which snap elements 58 are secured at points spaced longitudinally therealong. In addition, a reinforcing member 60 extends between the ends of the channel members 56 remote from the reinforcing members 22 and 24 and has a plurality of snap fasteners 62 secured thereto at points spaced longitudinally therealong.

A resilient and buoyant cushion 64 is provided and is of a plan shape corresponding to the area bound by the channel members 56 and the reinforcing member 60. The cushion 64 includes a peripheral flange to which snap fasteners 66 are secured and which cooperate with the snap fasteners 58 and 62 to removably secure the cushion 64 between the convergent end portions 52 and 54 of the opposite side members 30 and 32.

The reinforcing members 22 and 24 are joined by an integral bight portion 68 and a swivel fitting 70 is secured to the reinforcing members 22 and 24 by means of a fastener 72 adjacent the bight portion 68. A hook 74 has its base end swivelly supported from the swivel fitting 70 and an eye 76 mounted on its hooked end 78 to which one end of a tethering line 80 is secured. The other end of the tethering line 80 has a fitting 82 thereon releasably engaged with an eye portion 84 of an adjustable collar 86 carried by a double-ended paddle assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 88. The paddle assembly 88 includes a first paddle section 90 defining an outer sleeve 92 having a paddle blade 94 on one end. The paddle blade 94 is hollow or filled with buoyant material and is therefore buoyant. The second section 96 includes an inner shank portion 98 telescoped into the open end of the outer sleeve 92 and a paddle blade 100. The paddle blades 94 and 100 include rigid U-shaped handles 102 and the paddle sleeve 92 is provided with a pair of radial bores 104 and 106 in which a spring detent 108 carried by the inner shank portion 98 is removably receivable. Accordingly, it may be seen that the length of the double-ended paddle assembly 88 may be appreciably increased over the length thereof illustrated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings by inwardly pressing the detent 108, shifting the paddle blade 96 away from the paddle blade 94, and then allowing the spring-urged detent 108 to seat in the opening or aperture 106.

The collar 86 is provided with a setscrew 110 and may therefore be readily secured in adjusted position along the outer sleeve 92.

When the ladder 10 is utilized in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings the person using the ladder 10 may propel himself over the surface of a body of water by oscillating the double-ended paddle assembly 88 in a paddling motion. The user of the ladder 10 will of course in part pull himself over the water through his arms and in part through the pull member 80 secured between the paddle assembly 88 and the hook 74.

When it is desired to use the ladder 10 as a boarding ladder, the hooked end portion 78 of the hook 74 may be hooked over the gunwale of a boat such as that designated by the reference numeral 114 in FIGURE 8 and alternate rungs 38 may be removed so as to increase the distance between adjacent rungs thereby more closely approaching the spacing between rungs of a conventional ladder. In addition, even though the alternate rungs are illustrated in position in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, further rungs may be supported from the ribs 34 between each pair of adjacent rungs illustrated in FIGURE 1 if it is desired to provide a more solid flooring for the raft defined by the ladder 10. Also, coacting snaps may be substituted for the pins 40 carried by the rungs 38 and the apertures 36 formed in the channel-shaped members 34 so as to enable the rungs 38 to be more readily removed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A boarding ladder comprising a frame including a pair of laterally spaced and generally parallel opposite side members, a plurality of ladder rungs secured to and extending between said opposite side members at corresponding points spaced longitudinally therealong, the adjacent sides of said opposite side members including generally coplanar longitudinally extending flanges projecting outwardly of said side members toward each other, said flanges being constructed of stiff but resilient and bendable material and include pairs of corresponding apertures formed therethrough at points spaced longitudinally therealong, said rungs including opposite end pins projecting slightly axially outwardly therefrom and terminating outwardly in first generally right angled end portions which in turn terminate at their free ends in generally right angled terminal ends extending generally longitudinally of the corresponding rung, said right angled terminal end portions being removably passed through corresponding pairs of said apertures with said first end portions removably extending through said corresponding pairs of apertures.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said opposite side members include buoyant portions sufficiently buoyant to render said ladder floatable in water.

3. A boarding ladder comprising a frame including a pair of laterally spaced and generally parallel opposite side members, a plurality of ladder rungs secured to and extending between said opposite side members at corresponding points spaced longitudinally therealong, said boarding ladder being buoyant, a pull line having one end secured to one end of said ladder, and an elongated double ended paddle secured to the other end of said pull line centrally intermediate the opposite ends of said paddle, said pull line being of a length adapted to be taut when a person lying on said ladder with his arms projecting beyond his head is holding said paddle in his hands with the latter disposed on opposite sides of the point of securement of said pull line to said paddle.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said paddle is buoyant and will float in water.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said paddle is adjustable in length.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said paddle includes opposite end generally coplanar blade portions, corresponding side faces of said blade portions having generally U-shaped handles secured thereto and opening toward said corresponding side faces.

7. In combination, an elongated buoyant float adapted to support and buoy up a person lying lengthwise thereon with his shoulders disposed at one end of said float, a pull line having one end secured to one end of said float, an elongated paddle to which the other end of said pull line is secured intermediate the opposite ends of the paddle, said pull line being of a length adapted to be taut when the person lying on said float with his arms projecting beyond his head is holding said paddle in his hands with the latter disposed on opposite sides of the point of sec'urement of said pull line to said paddle.

8. An elongated buoyant float including a pair of laterally spaced and generally parallel elongated opposite side members, said side members being hollo-w and constructed of flexible fluid impervious material, said opposite side members being inflated with a gas, a plurality of elongated rigid ladder rungs extending between said opposite side members and having their opposite ends secured to said opposite side members at corresponding points spaced longitudinally therealong, means, exclusive of said ladder rungs, interconnecting one pair of corresponding ends of said side members and a hook member including a hook end and a shank end having its shank end secured to said means interconnecting said one pair of corresponding ends of said opposite side members, said hook end being adapted for engagement with a gunwale portion or other portion of a boat for suspension of said boarding ladder therefrom whereby the latter may be utilized as a boarding ladder.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means interconnecting said one pair of corresponding ends of said opposite side members includes integral convergent terminal ends of said opposite side members joined together by a reinforcing member maintaining the interiors of said opposite side members out of communication with each other, said shank end being secured to said reinforcing member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,605 6/1926 Scroggins -22 3,142,356 7/1964 Rich 182194 3,190,393 6/1965 Alfano 182-194 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,723 12/ 1886 Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. W. BUCKMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

